If you/your kids are vegetarian, what would make you feed your kids meat?

This probably will turn into a debate over whether it's wrong to make a kid a vegetarian...but it's meant to be more of a survey. If you and/or your children are vegetarian, are there any circumstances where you would let your kids become meat-eaters?

I'm really interested in what vegetarians would say, not those who are not veg. And, I'm asking because my kids are currently vegetarian but I'm debating with myself whether I should let them eat meat for a variety of reasons.

Edited to be clearer: what I really mean is whether there is any situation where you feel like it would be better/easier to have your kids eat meat- like if there are severe food allergies that would impact a vegetarian diet or other health issues, or any other issues that weren't the standard "my kid wanted to try meat" story.

Sorry I'm not clearer. Obviously this makes sense in my own little brain...

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Mom to DD Casey, adopted from Korea 4/9/09 (born 5/16/08) and DS Drew, born 4/11/10.

I am under the impression that long term vegetarians have a very difficult time digesting meat if at some point they decide to start eating meat, is that true? That would be the only concern I would have with raising my child veg, otherwise I think it's fine for whatever reason.

Perhaps vegans. The proteins in chicken eggs are basically the same proteins in chicken.

I've known several long-time vegetarians who started eating meat and had no serious issues. I've heard of others who did.

Honestly, when one makes a significant change to one's diet, there can be a period of gastro-intestinal adjustment. When I went vegan for awhile, even though I'd be vegetarian or near-vegetarian for years, it took a little while for my body to adjust (I assume it was the lack of dairy- a binder). After a couple of months, everything was fine again. When I went back to eating dairy and eggs, I again had some intestinal issues that resolved after a bit.

My kids can chose to eat what the want.. I make healthy meals I watch where most my food comes from. If they go veg thats fine I am awesome at making vegetables and I can make all sorts of pastas :) We do not eat a whole lot of meat, we also expose our kids to MANY foods, so later in life they can chose what they want to eat. Right now I get the sense that my youngest may not like meat as she sort of picks around it... Totally fine with me.

Thanks for clarifying that Madapanta, I thought it was much worse then that, almost like a food allergy for those that start eating meat. If that's the case then I see nothing wrong with raising a child veg.

Really? You're totally cool with them not eating any meat? You won't even serve it to them if they don't want it?

What if all they wanted is pizza. Morning, noon and night, that's all they wanted to eat. Would you be ok with that? Make it for them? Not try to get them to eat what the rest of the family is eating? Their diet should be their choice, after all.

"Oh, yes, because these issues are on par with and as personal as food choices. Perspective, please."

Those issues absolutely are on a par with the choice of what to eat. I am actually surprised you would make this argument.

"Additonally, I never claimed vegetatrianism was wrong."

You misunderstand me - I did not suggest that you think vegetarianism is wrong; rather, that if I thought meat-eating was ethically and/or morally wrong, I would not and could not "expose" my child to meat-eating in a non-biased way. Just as you could not "expose" your child to, say, the issue of blood diamonds in a "fair" way if you found it morally repugnant.